Mark w



(No Model.)

M. W. DEWEY.

METHOD OF UTILIZINGNATURAL ELEUTRIG ENERGY. No. 414,943. Patented Nov.12, 1889.

WITNESSES I INQVENTOR ATTORNEYS N, PETERS. Plmlv-Lilbogrnpimr,Waihlnglnn. n. c.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK \V. DE\VEY, OF SYRACUSE, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEWEYCORPORATION, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF UTILIZING NATURAL ELECTRIC ENERGY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,943, dated November12, 1889.

I Application filed May 1, 1889. Serial No. 309,171. (No model.) I

7 To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK l/V. DEWEY, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of NewYork, have invented new and usefulImprovements in the Method of Utilizing Natural Electric Energy, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompafi ingdrawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a method whereby naturalelectrical energysuch as the so-called atmospheric electrical energy, orelectrical energy that may be derived from the difference of potentialexisting between two points, one being the earth and the other theatmosphere at an elevation above the earthmay be collected or utilizedfor the various uses to which electricity is applied.

It has been found that the presence of electricity in the upper regionsof the atmosphere is not confined to thunder-clouds, but can be detectedat all times and often in great quantities in different conditions ofthe atmosphere. In fine weather this electricity is mostly positive; butin showery or stormy weather negative electricity is as frequently metwith as positive, and it is in such weather that the indications ofelectricity,whether positive or negative, are usually the strongest. Ithas also been found that as we proceed farther from the earths surface,whether upward from a level plane thereof or horizontally from anelevation, the potential of points in the air becomes more and morediiferent from that of the earth, the difference being, in a broadsense, simply proportional to the distance; hence We can infer thatthere is electricity residing on the surface of the earth, the densityof which at any moment in the locality of observation is measured by thedifference of potential found to exist between the earth and a givenpoint in the air near it. The results of observations show that thevariations of the electricity residing in the atmosphere is the maincause of the variations of the electricity on the surface of the earth.A charged cloud or body of air induces electricity of the opposite kindto its own on the parts of the earths surface over which it passes andproduces such variations. The difference of potential in increasing thedistance from the earth is due to electricity induced on the surface ofthe earth by opposite electricity in the air overhead, and the air beinga nonconductor the electricitics are unable to combine. As electricaldensity is greater on pro jecting parts of a surface than on those whichare plane or concave, stronger indications that if a path of lowresistance is formed (such as the erection of a metal pole) to asufficient elevation above the earth the elect-ricities in theatmosphere and that on the surface of the earth will tend to combine andtravel through the said path in a current or currents, and if this poleterminates in a metal point or a number of such points the earth andclouds exchange their opposite electricities without a disruptivedischargeas the lightningbutin a slow andgradual way through convection.Besides supplying the top of the pole with points, a metal plate towhich the said points are fixed attracts the opposite electricity in theatmosphere. In

order to obtain a greater and increased effect, 8 5

a large metal plate is buried at the foot of the pole and electricallyconnected therewith, and is provided with points or branches extending"in different directions in the ground. The

plate and branches may be surrounded by metallic refuse, coke, or othergood conducting substance. The metallic points on the top of the poleshould be sharp, and preferably of copper, and may be platinized,gilded, or galvanized to prevent corrosion.

ing been ascertained by practical experiments that either a flame ordropping water at an elevation above the surface of the earth producesconvection of electricity, it is obvi ous that such means may beemployed in 100 place of the points hereinbefore referred to. As theelectricity in the atmosphere is some- Little or no effects 65 Ithavductor and prevents corrosion.

times positive and other times negative, the direction of the currentsis not always the samethat is, the atmospheric electrical energy iscomposed of a current of an alternating character, flowing in onedirection on an average about as in ueh of the time as in the oppositedirection, but the length of the current in a certain direction, or thelengths of time between reversals or changes in the direction of itshow, is greatly varied. This and also the varied strength of thecurrents have prevented the utilization of atmospheric electrical energyin commercial quantities for the various purposes for which electricityis generally employed. In order to utilize such a current or currents,they should be transformed into a continuous direct current of uniformstrength. The apparatus for accomplishing the transformation ofatmospheric electricity into a direct current of uniform strength issusceptible of being greatly modified. The preferred form of apparatus,however, for carrying the invention practically into effect I will nowproceed to describe to show that the method is capable of actualperformance. Said apparatus is illustrated in the diagram accompanyingthis specification.

Referring specifically to said diagram, A represents a metallic pole,which is shown bare, but may be enveloped in suitable insulatingmaterial, if desirable. B is the base of the aforesaid pole, which baseis of insulating material set in the ground E. C is a large metal platebeneath the said base, and has points or branches 0 extending therefromin different directions in the ground. 0 is a metallic post extendingfrom the said plate above the surface of the ground and having aterminal (1 of the circuit D. On the top of said pole is mounted ametallic cap F, c011- sisting, preferably, of a convex disk providedwith sharp iron or copper points p, which project in all directions fromthe same. As before mentioned, the said points may be plated with asuitable metal that forms a good con- Similar caps F may be placed onother insulated poles, as A, in the vicinity, and connected with themain pole A by an electric conductor a, for increasing the effect. Thepole A may be of wood, and the pole A may also be of the same materialif provided with a metal conductor within or on the outside, extendingfrom the cap to the other terminal d of the circuitD. The said circuit Dleads from the terminal (Z through an automatic variable resistance G,thence to one of the poles of a secondary or storage battery H, and fromthe other pole of said battery through an automatic currentregulator tothe terminal d. All automatic eurrent-reverser or pole-changer J islocated in the said circuit for reversing the current whenever there isa change in its direction, so that it may be rectified or straightenedduring transit and caused to travel at all times whet-her its directionis toward or from the earth in one and the same direction through aportion of the circuit containing the secondary battery. The reversalsare accomplished automatically by means of a pivoted polarized armatureI), located between two electro-ina-gnets c 0, having their coilsincluded in a shunt-circuit between the leads of the circuit D. Themagnets are wound so that a north pole will be presented to the ar--mature on one side and a south pole on the other. \Vhen the current isflowing in a certain direction, the said polarized armature will berepelled by one magnet and attracted by the other, and thereby moved toone side. hen the current changes its direction through the magnets, thepoles of the said magnets are reversed and the armature is both repelledand attracted to the other side. An arm 1), of diamagnetic material, isfixed to and extends from the armature and is moved by the same. Betweena movable end of the arm and the said ciirrent-reverser is a pivotedconnection or link 6, by which the motion of th g arm is conveyed to thereverser. S topsf are provided for limiting the movement of the saidarm, and an adjustable resistance (Z is included in the shunt cl" toregulate the current through the same.

The curren t-regulator hereinbefore referred to preventsshort-circuiting or the rapid discharge of the secondary battery intothe air and ground when the strength of saidbatterycurrent becomesgreater than that passing to the battery. Said regulator is composed ofan eleetro-magnet I, having its coil in the circuit D. A pivotedpolarized armature g is connected at its pivot to one terminal of thecoil of said magnet, and when the current is Howing to the battery saidarmature is attracted by the magnet I and held in contact with the stopIt, to which the terminal of the secondary battery is connected. In theaforesaid condition a free or low-resistance path for the current isprovided to the battery; but when the battery-current exceeds thecharging-current the magnet-poles are reversed and the armature isrepelled by the magnet, and the free path of the circuitis brokenbetween the armature g and stop h. In order to maintain the armature inthe latter position until the charging current has been increased instrength above that of the battery-current or discharging-current, andso that the said regulator will automatically operate, a shunt path K ofhigh resistance is provided around the armature g and stop 7!. The highresistance of the said shunt is obtained by including a rheostat m. Thisshunt path or circuit K, with the resistance, permits a small butsufficient amount of current to flow through the magnet I to hold thearmature away from the stop h until the current is reversed, and thenmove the armature back to stop h to close the free or low-resistancepath. A spring '5 is provided to assist the movement of the armaturefrom the magnet when it is repelled by the same.

The electric current may be directly conducted to translatingdevices-such as lamps or electromotors; but, as hereinbefore stated,said current is preferably employed to charge one or more cells of thesecondary battery H, and this battery stores or accumulates theelectrical energy and supplies the said translating devices. Toillustrate the latter feature, leads or wires L and L are extended fromthe poles or electrodes of said battery, and translating devices, in theshape of incandescent lamps Z, are connected with the said wires inmultiple arc. mon circuit maker and breaker to to close and open thecircuit to the lamps. The said battery may be charged in series orparallel.

The automatic variable resistance G maintains the current flowingthrough the circuit D approximately uniform by increasing the resistancetherein upon an increase of strength. Said resistance is not absolutelynecessary and may be dispensed with.

The lightning-arrester M is to short-circuit a very heavy current toprevent the same from passing through the other parts of the apparatusand injuring it. Alow-resistance shunt O, with a circuit maker andbreaker therein, is connected between the leads of the circuit D, nearthe terminals d and d, to completely short-circuit the apparatus whendesired.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to securebyLetters Patent, is

1. The method of utilizing atmospheric electrical energy, consisting incond noting the electric current or currents bettween the earth and apoint in the atmosphere at an elevation above the earth, rectifying orstraightening the currents during transit, and storing or accumulatingthe electrical energy of said rectified current or currents.

2. As preliminary steps in the method of utilizing atmosphericelectrical energy, conducting the electric current or currents through apath of low resistance between the earth and the atmosphere at anelevation above the earth, maintaining an approximately uniform strengthof current and rectifying or straightening the same during transit.

In the wire L is a com- As preliminary steps in the method of utilizingatmospheric electrical energy, conducting the electric current orcurrents through a path of low resistance between the earth and theatmosphere at an elevation above the earth, and rectifying orstraightening said currents during transit.

4. The method of utilizing atmospheric electrical energy or derivingenergy from the difference of electrical potential existing between theearth and a point or points in the atmosphere at an elevation above theearth, consisting in conducting the current or currents between the twopoints through a path of low resistance, rectifying or straightening thesaid currents in a portion of the path during transit, and storing oraccumulating the electrical energy thereof.

5. The method of utilizing atmospheric electrical energy or derivingenergy from the difference of electrical potential existing between theearth and a point or points in the atmosphere at an elevation above theearth, consisting in conducting the current or cur rents between the twopoints through apath of low resistance, maintaining an approximatelyuniform strength of current, rectifying or straightening the saidcurrents in a portion of the path during transit, and storing oraccumulating the electrical energy.

6. The method of utilizing atmospheric electrical energy composed of acurrent of a varied alternating character, consisting in conducting theelectric current or currents through a path of low resistance betweenthe earth and the atmosphere at an elevation above the earth, and thenaccumulating the electrical energy of said current or currents whileflowing in both directions in one or more cells of a secondary orstorage battery, as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 29th day ofApril, 1889 MARK XV. DE\VEY. [1,. S.]

Vitnesses:

O. H. DUELL, C. L. BENDIXON.

